Air cleaner assembly and process

Abstract

An air cleaner assembly for an internal combustion engine and process for eliminating fuel emissions from passing into the atmosphere. The air cleaner assembly includes a housing including a filter element situated therein, an outlet for allowing filtered air to flow to the engine, and an inlet conduit extending from the housing for permitting the entry of air into the housing. A retainer is coupled to the inlet conduit. The retainer includes an adsorber member.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An air cleaner assembly, comprising: 
       a housing comprising an inlet conduit extending from the housing and an outlet;  
       a retainer coupled to the inlet conduit, the retainer comprising a wall defining a first open end and a second open end, wherein the wall has a cuffed portion about the second open end forming a recess facing the first open end, wherein a portion of the inlet conduit is seated in the recess; and  
       an adsorber member disposed within the first open end, wherein the adsorber member comprises an outer perimeter sealingly abutting against the retainer wall.  
     
     
       2. The air cleaner assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the inlet conduit is cylindrically shaped. 
     
     
       3. The air cleaner assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the retainer comprises a single walled integral structure. 
     
     
       4. The air cleaner assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the retainer comprises a resilient material. 
     
     
       5. The air cleaner assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the first open end is less than or equal to an inner diameter of the inlet conduit. 
     
     
       6. The air cleaner assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising an air meter sealingly coupled to the second open end of the retainer. 
     
     
       7. The air cleaner assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first open end comprises an annular protrusion that extends about an inner peripheral end of the first opening. 
     
     
       8. The air cleaner assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the cuffed portion comprises first and second annular protrusions spaced apart and disposed about an outermost peripheral surface. 
     
     
       9. The air cleaner assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a filter element disposed within the housing. 
     
     
       10. The air cleaner assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the adsorber member comprises a monolith having a plurality of gas flow passages. 
     
     
       11. The air cleaner assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the adsorber member further comprises a monolith comprising activated carbon. 
     
     
       12. The air cleaner assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a clamping device disposed about the second open end and the portion of the inlet conduit to provide an air tight seal between the retainer and the inlet conduit. 
     
     
       13. The air cleaner assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the resilient material is a rubber modified polypropylene. 
     
     
       14. The air cleaner assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the clamping device comprises a hose clamp. 
     
     
       15. A process for reducing fuel emissions contained within an air cleaner assembly to an external atmosphere, the process comprising: 
       securing a retainer to an inlet conduit of an air cleaner assembly, the retainer comprising a wall defining first and second open ends, wherein the wall has a cuffed portion about the second open end forming a recess facing the first open end, and wherein a portion of the inlet conduit is seated in the recess;  
       sealingly engaging a hydrocarbon adsorber member in the first open end;  
       securing a clamping device about the second open end of the retainer and the portion of the inlet conduit seated in the recess to form an air tight seal between the retainer and inlet conduit.  
     
     
       16. The process according to  claim 13 , wherein sealingly engaging the hydrocarbon adsorber member in the first open end further comprises seating the hydrocarbon adsorber member against an annular protrusion that extends about an inner peripheral end of the wall defining the first opening. 
     
     
       17. A process for operating an air cleaner assembly, the process comprising: 
       operating an engine in fluid communication within the air cleaner assembly for drawing air from an external environment through the air cleaner assembly to the engine, wherein the air cleaner assembly comprises a housing containing a filter element, an inlet conduit extending from the housing and an outlet; a retainer coupled to the inlet conduit, the retainer comprising a wall defining a first open end and a second open end, wherein the wall has a cuffed portion about the second open end forming a recess facing the first open end, wherein a portion of the inlet conduit is seated in the recess; and an adsorber member disposed within the first open end, wherein the adsorber member comprises an outer perimeter sealingly abutting against the retainer wall; and  
       treating a backflow of fluid from the engine to the air cleaner assembly with the adsorber member after shutdown of the engine to reduce fuel emissions into the external environment.